Rudolf Zeilinger, long time pupil of Willi Schultheis and Trainer of the Danish Olympic Dressage Team, is known for his sensible and sensitive way of schooling dressage horses. His horses are fascinating to watch again and again because of their easy, relaxed way of going and their natural enthusiasm to work, which he encourages throughout their career.
The aim of basic training of the young horse is to systematically school a newly broken horse in such a way to create a sound foundation for later specialisation. It is through this foundation that all his dressage horses are, by the age of seven years, routinely, fluently and naturally performing Grand Prix movements.
In the second part of this series of films Zeilinger offers the spectator clear insight into the first years training of his dressage horses under the rider. His aim at this point is to establish the 'acclimatisation phase' which comprises Rhythm, Suppleness and Contact. The young horse is taught how to perform correct transitions and to extend the trot whilst all the time being encouraged further into self-carriage. Specific movements, shoulder-in, half pirouette in walk and rein back are also introduced. In particular Zeilinger explains why it is so difficult for young horses to learn the rein back and demonstrates with a young horse finding this particularly difficult how to overcome these problems.
He also presents a very practical view of a horse's first experience in young riding horse competitions, we follow a young horse to his first show and see his reaction to this new experience. Zeilinger offers advice on how to acclimatise the young horse to this new environment and how to make it a positive experience for the horse.
Language: English / German
Running time approx 58 mins
PAL format